Turbine drive helical pump



y 11, 1967 A. 0. DONALDSON 3,33

TURBINE DRIVE HELICAL PUMP Filed July. 7, 1965 United States Patent @fitice 3,330,213 Patented July 11, 1967 3,330,213 TURBINE DRIVE HELICAL PUMP Archibald Donald Donaldson, 460 Hazelwood Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94127 Filed July 7, 1965, Ser. No. 470,004 1 Claim. (Cl. 103-87) This invention relates to a helical made to rotate within a cylindrical chamber by the application of vapor, or fluid, under pressure against turbine blades on the outer surface of a cylinder, the inner surface of said cylinder being a part of the perimeter of said helical.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel helical pump of the character stated in which the direction of flow of the material being transported can be reversed by merely changing the rotation of the helical.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel helical pump in which pressure can gradually be exerted on the material being transported by designating one port as the inlet and gradually decreasing the diameter of the helical chambers, the helical and the cylinder to provide a uniform taper from that port to the other port, which naturally would be the outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novei helical pump in which the pressure can gradually be relieved in the material being transported by designating one port as the inlet and gradually increasing the diameter of the helical chambers, the helical and the cylinder to provide a uniform taper from that port to the other port, which naturally would be the outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel helical pump in which the rotation of the helical in the line of the material flow has, in effect, an action which, in many cases, eliminates the necessity of a directional flow regulator.

Another object of the turbine drive helical pump is to provide a novel helical pump which eliminates excessive pressure on the material being transported, permitting its use in the transportation of perishable materials suspended in a liquid, such as in the food processing industry; the pumps usage will prove beneficial where sanitary conditions must prevail, allowing products here-to-fore handled under questionable, unsanitary conditions to be moved without subjection to unnecessary handling.

Other objects, advantages and features of the turbine drive helical pump may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claim.

On the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is looking at the top of the pump, with the principal parts of the interior shown by broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pump as if it were split along the centerline of the helical and helical cavities, the helical being shown in full flight.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of one of the complementary housing sides of the pump.

FIGURE 4 is a top, or side, view showing only the cylinder, helical, thermal barrier (hidden), turbine ring and turbine blades.

Referring more particularly to the drawing of the turbine drive helical pump the numeral 1 indicates the housing ring, whose circular inner surface is so formed as to provide close tolerance for clearance of the tops of the turbine blades 12, in rotation, and has at appropriate cations two orifices, 14 and 15, one which is designated as the inlet, and the other designated as the outlet. Complementary housing sides 2 and 3, each which contain accurate helical cavities 8 and 9, to provide close tolerance for clearance of the helical 5 in rotation also have accurate flat inner surfaces which provide close tolerance for the clearance of the sides of the turbine blades 12 in rotation when they are suitably bolted to the mating sides of the housing ring 1 in a manner which is usual and well known in the art, thereby forming a complete pump housing, the outermost area of the circular cavity so formed becoming the turbine blade cavity 13. Suitable gaskets 16 and 17 may be provided on the flat faces of the housing ring 1 to prevent leakage when there is pressure within the turbine cavity. A series of turbine blades 12 is an integral part of the outer surface of the turbine ring 11, whose inner surface is press fitted, or otherwise suitably attached, to the outer surface of a thermal barrier ring 10, a low density material provided to prevent excessive heat exchange between the vapor, or fluid, used as a source of power against the turbine blades and the material being pumped. The inner surface of the thermal barrier ring 10 is press fitted, or otherwise suitably attached, to the outer surface of the cylinder 4, which has one (or more) helical(s) 5 along its inner surface; the ends of said helical(s) project beyond the cylinder and are so formed as to rotate within their respective helical cavities 8 and 9 within close tolerances. This assembly is the only moving part of the turbine drive helical pump, rotating on bearings 6 and 7 which are inserted in the housing sides 2 and 3.

In operation vapor, or fluid, under pressure is introduced thru the inlet 14 into a portion of the turbine blade cavity 13, exerting its force against the turbine blades 12, causing them to rotate, sweeping the entire turbine blade cavity, the space formed by the circular inner surface of the housing ring 1, the flat inner surfaces of the housing sides 2 and 3, and the outer sigface of the turbine blade ring 11; this action imparts a rotary move- 'ment to the entire assembly (described in the preceding paragraph) and the rotating turbine blades pass over the orifice designated as the outlet 15, allowing the spent source of energy to be released.

The actual pumping occurs as the rotating helical 5 sweeps the inner surfaces of the cylindrical helical cavities 8 and 9, causing the material being transported to change position by the pushing action of the moving helical. While the helical is rotating there is little or no restriction, or restraint on the helical and, as a result, there is minimal frictional loss, allowing the pump to operate in a highly economical manner. This frictional elimination during the travel of the helical is quite material, and the actual pumping action is enhanced by the sweep of the helical thru its respective helical cavity. It is evident that if it is desirable to change the direction of flow of the material being transported the fact can be accomplished by changing the rotation of the helical; it is also evident that if it is desirable to make a pump which will increase the pressure against the material being transported the objective can be accomplished by restricting the orifice of the helical cavity designated as the out let port.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a turbine drive helical pump comprising a helical screw impeller, said impeller including a hollow cylindrical portion having a constant inner diameter and the helical screw depending therefrom, the helical screw extending from the opposite ends of said cylindrical portion, said helical screw having substantially constant outer diameter throughout its length, a thermal barrier covering the outer surface of said cylindrical portion and a turbine ring secured to and covering the outer surface of said thermal barrier, blades carried by said turbine ring for rotation of said impeller, means defining a housing for said impeller comprising a central part radially spaced from said turbine ring, said central part having opposed 7 3 end faces, complementary housing sides abutting said opposed end faces and defining with said central part a chamber for said blades, means in said central part for supplying driving fluid to and from said blades, means carn'ed by said complementary housing sides engaging the cy- 5 tion of the ends of said helical screw therein.

"-\l}eferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,065 5/1900 Martens 10391 998,709 7/ 1911' McClave 230-116 2,195,90Q 4/ 1940 Pezzillo l0287 X DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Examiner. 

